Waterproof jackets

Looking for a new waterproof jacket. What’s recommended these days, it’s been a while since I bought a new one.

Are the endura mt500 waterproof jackets still well regarded? I’ve also seen an endura mt500 light pullover jacket which looks interesting.  Any wearers of these?

I’m using fox defend jacket and trousers. All day dry in the rain 🌧

The Rab cinder downpour lite jacket has done well this very rainy march

Nice jacket. But personally I wouldn’t wear something the colour of tarmac….

I’ve a shiny new DHB Jacket that’s had two proper downpours and kept me bone dry. eBay will be stuffed with them shortly as they were silly cheap.

I bought and returned 2 types of those cheap DHB jacket as the fit was awful. 🤷‍♂️

Nice jacket. But personally I wouldn’t wear something the colour of tarmac….

Doesn’t matter to me, I’m colour blind. Pretty sure there are two other colours for those that care about such things

I sometimes wonder if rocketdog reads the forum whilst polishing off endless gravel miles, then grabs a quick selfie when the topic suits.

Thanks some good suggestions here.

Colour looks ok to me rocketdog 👍

Need to go out and try some on to see if they’ll fit my portly frame.

I bought an MT500 from CRC. It was ~£70

It’s the newer version with the 40k waterproof and breathability rating and vents on the chest. If I’d have paid anywhere near full price (£240) I’d have sent it straight back.

It is waterproof and the vents do help to get some airflow through but I just can’t see it being worth anywhere near asking price.

I was eying up it up along with the Madison DTE as on paper, they’re fairly similar. I’ve never been disappointed with a Madison product. I’ve never been totally happy with an Endura product.

The fit is a bit weird. I’m 5’7 and about 10.5 stone. Fairly smil but kit super skinny. Small jacket is perfect across the shoulders. If my arms were any longer, the arms on the jacket would be too short. Jacket length is almost too short but just about ok. Despite the arms and length being in the small and short side, the whole thing is pretty baggy on me. Maybe I need to be fatter.

Silicone print on the shoulders is a great feature if you ride with a pack. Doesn’t so much stop the pack moving but it does stop the straps abrading the jacket over time.

The ‘helmet compatible’ hood is hilarious. Basically so big that I can’t use it without a helmet. My head just disappears inside it, even with the cinch pulled right up. I guess if you want to ride with the hood over your helmet it’s probably fine. Without a helmet though, it flops down over my eyes so I can’t see.

I bought it to replace a non bike specific eVent jacket from Fjern (Sports Pursuit). Pulling that on felt like shelter. Pulling on the Endura makes me wonder if it’s actually going to keep me warm or dry. It does, but it doesn’t feel all that substantial. Its got a small amount of stretch to the material but nowhere near as stretchy as I’d hoped.

It’s not a bad jacket, but equally it’s not a £240 jacket to me.

I’ve a shiny new DHB Jacket that’s had two proper downpours and kept me bone dry. eBay will be stuffed with them shortly as they were silly cheap.

I bought the running version which has been surprisingly good for cycling (on and off-road) especially as it was only a tenner. If they’re going on eBay still I’d give them a look.

Gore bike 3L jobbie, went for an unscheduled swim in it, dry underneath.
It helps that I fill it, but not in a good way.

The ‘helmet compatible’ hood is hilarious. Basically so big that I can’t use it without a helmet. My head just disappears inside it, even with the cinch pulled right up. I guess if you want to ride with the hood over your helmet it’s probably fine. Without a helmet though, it flops down over my eyes so I can’t see.

I just don’t get on with helmet hoods on riding jackets or hill jackets these days.

Personally I go for a collar on a riding jacket, plus buff etc.

It’s the newer version with the 40k waterproof and breathability rating and vents on the chest. If I’d have paid anywhere near full price (£240) I’d have sent it straight back.

I won one of these a couple of years ago, and despite it being free, also nearly sent it back. 😆

The fit is a bit weird.

Agreed. I’m 185cm & ~85kg & the large was literally huge on me, like riding with a sail. The medium however was much better fitting, just the arms & length of it was 10cm too small. I ended up keeping the medium & giving it to my other half. Also agree, ref the hood.

I have a Rapha Trail GoreTex Infinium which I use as my waterproof riding jacket, which I bought on Sport Pursuit for less than half the price of the Endura & other than no hand pockets, its been brilliant. The best riding jacket I have ever had. Still not sure its £300’s worth of coat at RRP, but I would feel considerably happier paying £300 for that, than £240 for the Endura.

I wouldnt actually pay much more than £100 for any riding jacket in reality, as I am always going to fall off & rip it at some point, but the Rapha one is really good, and was about that much.

I got the MT500  recently, for less than 1/2 price. I like it, but hood acts like a giant air brake as no way to stow it away.

I’ve got the what appears to be the previous MT500.

Seems they didn’t fix any of the issues.

The hood, pointless, but at least on the old one there was a way to sort of stow it. Cant quite bring myself to cut it off. Too small to go over a helmet (maybe I have a long neck) but far too big to use without a helmet. Has a weird floppy peak that makes it even more useless without a lid as it droops over your eyes.

High collar and helmet (or hat if you have long uphill pushes) are a much better solution.

I’m often between a medium and large in tops, this large fits me but is quite snug. If you fill a large shirt you might struggle with this.

More annoying on the fit is that it is quite an aggressive roadie/XC cut. Not in terms of tightness, but the shoulders/arms forward; and long tail, short front mean its no good to wear as a walking/general coat, and not ideal for hikeabike or standing round/having a break while on a bike ride either.

Never thought I’d say this, but beware Endura. I have an Endura Pro-SL II jacket for the road, it’s about 2 years old and rarely used. A few weeks ago the zip broke. Endura wouldn’t even talk to me without proof of purchase – I was just trying to track down the Endura repairs team, not looking for charity or warranty. Anyway, found the repairs team and they can’t repair zips.

After LOTS of research I decided this is my next jacket. Sold out of my size until Autumn unfortunately, but I keep telling myself it’ll stop raining soon so OK to wait!

Men's Elite 2.1 Jacket

Some bad reviews on here of the endura jackets. It’s good info as well as the online reviews don’t seem to point out any negatives.

Merlin have the endura in stock so was going to keep local and go onto the shop to try the jackets on but may have to rethink.

I did a bit of research and got a gore endure. They’re not cheap full price but I got 25% or it may have even been 30% off in a Black Friday sale a while back. It’s quite minimal but really well made, is pretty compact rolled up but it isn’t paper bag thin like some jackets. It’s deffo very waterproof and breathes well. It’s paclite plus. They do have an over the helmet hood which I’m not so keen on but it does cinch down for normal use. I think it’s £260 on their website but I’ve seen them cheaper elsewhere and there is 20% off if you sign up to their email thing.

“ I’ve got the what appears to be the previous MT500.”

I finally bought my first proper MTBing waterproof (instead of mountaineering jackets or tiny packable roadie thing) when the current MT500 was hugely discounted. The only fault I can find with the design is that the additional inner cuffs restrict venting, so I’ve cut the stitching and removed them (half hour job without damaging the jacket at all).

I’d always thought an over helmet hood was a stupid idea but it’s actually brilliant – keeps the rain out and keeps you cooler as it acts like an air intake when you’re moving at speed. Tighten the shock cords up and I can wear it without a helmet too. With the cuffs and pit zips open you can dump a lot of heat but it’s definitely only for v wet and/or cold weather if you run warm like me. The medium is not roadie sized, it fits medium/large me with enough shoulder and back room (gym goer problems). Pockets are huge and also work as vents. Arms are a good length (often too short for me).

I’ve got one of the current MT500 jackets and actually really like the hood as it’s easy to put over my helmet and is great at keeping my head warm. I also like the XL fit but am not so happy that the jacket wets through in only moderate rain.  Like others above I would only buy one again if it was cheap

I really like my MT500 jacket. It’s the black one that I got in 2022 so assuming the most recent model.

The hood doesn’t bother me so much, never noticed it getting in the way or flopping around. The side vents are really handy, and when the front pockets are open they act as a vent too, so it is incredibly breathable when everything is open. Found it to be pretty bombproof in terms of waterproofing too. The cut works for me – I’d say it is neither athletic or baggy fit and the length is good for me who is quite short.

Absolutely ridiculous price if you pay RRP though. I got mine at 30% off as well as having a birthday voucher for Tiso so I paid less than £100 for it. Also the glasses cloth thing stitched  in the pocket is absolutely useless, and I’m not convinced anyone would use the lift pass arm pocket.

Finally some love for endura jackets. Going to try one on at merlin sometime this week.

Leisure lakes appear to be the cheapest at £150

I’ve an old gorewear shell jacket which is getting a bit knackered now. The zip needs replacing as well as a few holes in it.

I like the idea of the hood going over the helmet so that isn’t a problem for me

“am not so happy that the jacket wets through in only moderate rain”

I see similar comments a lot nowadays with breathable waterproofs. I’d be very surprised if all these jackets are leaking – however, now that many manufacturers have move to PFC-free DWR the durable water repellent coating on the outside isn’t anywhere near as durable or water repellent. However, PFC’s are horrible poisonous chemicals that never biodegrade and should never have been invented much less sprayed on the clothes we wear in the great outdoors.

When the outer fabric wets out then the membrane will lose most of its ability to breathe and you’ll get significant condensation inside the jacket if you’re working hard. The only way to avoid that is Paramo jackets but they’re even hotter than normal breathable waterproofs and they’ll actually leak if they get dirty enough.

@chiefgrooveguru – re: Paramo I totally agree. I kept on getting recommended them ages ago and eventually caved. Felt like I was wearing a light Primaloft jacket rather than a waterproof one.

Not sure if this is illegal on STW but taking the chance to bump my own thread asking for any comments on the on one jacket

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/anyone-have-the-latest-on-one-mtb-jacket/

Nice jacket. But personally I wouldn’t wear something the colour of tarmac….

Doesn’t matter to me, I’m colour blind. Pretty sure there are two other colours for those that care about such things

I suspect that the comment re colour was to do with onbike visibility, in that a tarmac coloured jacket is less likely to be seen by a driver than a neon yellow (other bright colours are available) one. Not a dig at your sartorial tastes. It’s a nice enough colour but I do agree with Mr Outandabout that when riding on the road (and indeed for mtb should you ever need to be rescued) a bright jacket makes a lot of sense

Not sure if this is illegal on STW but taking the chance to bump my own thread asking for any comments on the on one jacket

Would be interested to hear of any views on this as well

I picked up an Altura Ridge last year in a sale, it’s been absolutely brilliant. I did the Cumbria Cracker in November and it was torrential rain, but the jacket was great. I’ve just reproofed it.

Men's Ridge Tier Pertex Waterproof Jacket

I bought that Altura when they were doing the 50% off for back Friday or Christmas or something. Sent it back for being rustly material and the pit zips being tiny.

It looks as though the chest zips are vents but they’re just regular pockets.

The fit was good and it was nice and light though, it packed down really small. Almost kept it for that reason but decided against it in the end.

I suspect that the comment re colour was to do with onbike visibility, in that a tarmac coloured jacket is less likely to be seen by a driver than a neon yellow (other bright colours are available) one

Exactly.

Sorry RD if that was a criticism – it’s more an observation…I don’t particularly do lumi, but I do ‘strong’ colours on bike clothes.

Unsure if it’s still on, but ShowersPass had a bank holiday discount on various items. They also do a subscriber discount. They are very helpful people. And their Refuge coat is 👌. I am told by child #2 that the ShowersPass Elements coat is also great.

No coat is perfect. But these seem pretty good.

As a few folks have said though pick any current Gore-Tex cycling coat and it will be good.

DHB …Me too (weird narrow chest) probably ok when your actually cycling but I think I would bust the seams off the bike (lifting a bike over a fence for example)

Never thought I’d say this, but beware Endura. I have an Endura Pro-SL II jacket for the road, it’s about 2 years old and rarely used. A few weeks ago the zip broke.

I had the mark one  which was great until the zip broke. I have a mark two as a warranty replacement and it’s rubbish. Sweaty and wets out no matter how often you treat it. I’ve just bought a Galibier Tourmalet which seems to be much more breathable, though the zip is hard to operate one handed.

I’ve had the ShowersPass, Goretex, MT500 and for me (everyone is different) they never worked out well as I got wet, either as they wetted out or perhaps from the inside out :/ I do tend to ride all year biblical rain included.

I managed to pick up a 7mesh jacket in the right size on ebay, don’t ask me which model, think it might be copilot and if you’re really fussed drop me a message and it has been awesome! Don’t get me wrong RRP is spendy as hell, but bargainous if you look around and very functional.

Have since matched up with a pair of (equally ebay sourced for less than £100) Thunderpants to match (not just for the cool name, but what a cool name) and they too are awesome.

Have had cause to get in touch when I self inflicted damage on the second hand coat and the customer team were equally awesome in terms of help to get fixed or replaced so I am sold and a convert now.

Not saying i would pay full RRP but I would definitely consider them first.

I had the mark one which was great until the zip broke. I have a mark two as a warranty replacement and it’s rubbish. Sweaty and wets out no matter how often you treat it.

Glad it’s not just me. Sweaty and wets out is the reason I have barely worn it in 2-3 years, although thought that might just be me.

7mesh sounds interesting. Better than the ShowersPass?

ETA what’s happened to the format options in the reply box?

I have an older version of this it’s been brilliant. STW did a review on it, stood up the fit is a bit weird, but as soon as you are on the bike it makes sense.

@tonyd for me night and day better, but we’re all different.

Did a v wet ride last night and both of us were wearing MT500 jackets. The over-helmet hood makes such a difference when it’s that wet and windy!

The Rapha ones are currently half price on Sports Pursuit and pretty good at £150

@iainc thanks,  I did notice those.  They do look pretty good, but would be interested to hear how tough they are.  I’ve got previous form for putting massive rips in brand new jackets.